Animation device for making animated films and the like



K. S. TYLER Sept. 1, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1962 F "E IIIU 4 n m l m .1 lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll m r r m m n n I u 5 nm HI 1 u -u- I .1 55. V w uunww'llhiil w 0 m w W a w MHn H w :zi1illli-"FL TIL H INVENTOR KINGDON S.TYLER BY F|G.3. zfzgwawwmd HIS ATTORNEYS Set. 1, 1964 K. s. TYLER 3,147,481

ANIMATION DEVICE FOR MAKING ANIMATED FILMS AND THE LIKE Filed March 12,1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lo 3 2 FIG. 2.

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': o t 0 U? r C I 3 E I O H 3 TL L 13-- INVENTOR KINGDON S.TYLER H ISATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,147,481 ANIMATION DEVICE FOR MAKINGANIMATED FILMS AND THE LIKE Kingdom S. Tyler, Silver Spring, Md.,assignor to Vltro Corporation of America, New York, N.Y. Filed Mar. 12,1962, Ser. No.- 181,223 4 Claims. (Cl. 352-87) This invention relates toanimation effects devices by means of which motions can be imparted tostrips or tapes bearing ornamental or decorative material or indicia inrelation to a subject, such as a picture, model or the like, tofacilitate the production of animated films and the like.

This is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Serial No.836,769, now abandoned, filed August 28, 1959, for Animation Device ForMaking Animated Flms And The Like.

Heretofore, in the production of animated films, it has been necessaryto provide large numbers of drawings each slightly different from theother and which are photographed in succession in a step by stepoperation to produce a motion picture film. The operations are somewhatsimplified by the use of transparent overlays or fixed backgrounds buteven with these, the production of an animated film is complex, timeconsuming and correspondingly expensive.

In accordance with the present invention, an animation effects device isprovided which can be used to impart motion to elements of aphotographic setup so that the entire assembly can be photographeddirectly by a conventional motion picture camera to give the desiredeffect.

More particularly, in accordance with the invention, the new animationeffects device includes a support for a picture, model, or the like andone or more mechanisms supported adjacent thereto by means of whichbelts or tapes may be moved relative to the picture or model to therebyindicate the movement of elements or the flow of materials, information,signals or the like which are to be represented in the filmed animation.The devices for moving the belts or tapes are constructed and arrangedso that belts may be simultaneously driven thereby in differentdirections and at angles thereto in order to follow a continuous orangularly formed path as may be required. In this way, it is possible todo away with the expensive overlays and numerous drawings or photographsrequired in some types of animated films.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in front elevation of a typical animation effectsdevice embodying the present invention with a drawing mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the animation effects device; and

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of a modified form of the deviceillustrating a difierent mounting means for the animating devicesthereof.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, a typical device embodying the invention mayinclude a frame member of square or rectangular shape formed of wood,metal or the like, the frame being supported by means of pivot shafts 11and 12 between the uprights 13 and 14 of a support similar to ablackboard support. Wingnuts may be threaded on the shafts 11 and 12 toenable the frame 10 to be locked in a vertical, horizontal or otherangular position. The frame 10 serves to support a photograph, drawing,model or the like which is to form the background or base for ananimated effect. As shown in FIGURE 1, a picture P of a ship S ismounted on the frame 10. Assuming that the animation is to indicate theflow of information, for example from the ship control 3,147,481Patented Sept. 1, 1964 station C of the ship to a radar room T thereof,portions of the picture are cut away to form slots 15a to 15f shown inFIGURE 1. Movement of information from control station C to radar room Tis indicated by an elongated flexible member such as symbol bearingbelts or clear plastic tapes 16, 17 and 18. which respectively passthrough the slots 15a, 15b; 15c, 15d; and 15c, 15 The belts or tapes 16,17 and 18 are supported on and driven by devices now to be described.Symbols carried by the tapes may be representative of electricalcurrent, bydraulic fluid, aircraft, missiles, torpedos or any desiredinformation.

Referring to FIGURE 2, the devices 19, 19' for moving the tapes or beltsinclude rectangular frame members 20 and 21 which are carried by theangle irons 22 and 23 or the like mounted on the back of the frame 10.The angle irons 22 and 23 are provided with a series of holes 24 and 25at each end enabling them to be adjusted endwise with respect to theframe or turned at a or other angle with respect to the position shownas may be required. Inasmuch as the animation effects devices 19 and 19'are essentially the same, only one of them Will be described. Thus, inthe device 19 the frame 20 is provided with a pair of spools 26 and 27over which the belt 18 is looped or on which a tape is wound. The spool26 has a shaft 28 therein which extends between the side members 29 and30 of the frameit) and is provided with a manually operated. crank 31 atone end so that the spool can be rotated. Similarly, the spool 27includes a shaft 32 having a crank 33 on one end of it to enable thespool to be rotated. A bevel gear 34 is mounted on the right hand end ofthe shaft 32 and meshes with a bevel gear 35 on the end of a shaft 36which also carries a spool 37 over which a belt or tape of film can bepassed or wound. The shaft 36 is rotatably mounted in a Ushaped bracket38 on the side member 30 of the frame 20.

The animation effects device 19' is also provided with a spool 40 whichcooperates with the spool 37 to wind or unwind the tape or, in the casean endless belt is used, to support the belt with one of its flightsextending through the slots 15c and 15d as shown. In this way, forexample, by turning the crank 33, a tape which is wound on the spool 40or a belt which passes around the spools 37 and 40 is driven with theresult that the spool 44) turns and in turn drives the spools 27 and 26'moving the belt or tape supported by these spools. Also, rotation of thecrank 33 drives the spools 26 and 27 and causes the belts or tapessupported by them to be driven endwise.

Action may be initiated with a leader of clear plastic tape exposed onthe surface of the drawing or picture subject. The portion of the tapewith printed or painted symbols appears first at control station C, uponspool rotation, from which point the symbols move down and across thepicture subject and then up to radar room T. The resulting animationeffects are continuous and may be photographed by a standard motionpicture camera.

It will thus be apparent that a series of tapes or belts bearingindicia, designs, ornamentation or data can be driven simultaneously anddisplayed by passing the tapes through slots 15:: to 15 in the picture Pto illustrate or demonstrate the flow of information or the like fromone area of the picture to another. Numerous other effects can also beachieved by changing the relation of the animating devices relative tothe support and the model or picture carried thereby.

By changing the angles of the animation devices with respect to theframe, a different pattern such as zig-zag pattern, inverted U, 2patterns and the like can be achieved. Thus, for example, as shown inFIGURE 3, animation effects devices 45 and 46 like those described abovemay be mounted on pantographs 47 and 48 so that they can be moved toalmost any desired position with respect to the support 10'. Also theangular relation of the effects devices 45 and 46 can be modified byproviding adjustable pivot supports 50 and 51 for connecting the devicesto the arms of the pantographs. Likewise as shown in FIGURE 3, the drivemechanisms for the spools may be modified somewhat. For example, a crank52 may be mounted on the shaft which supports a spool 53 by means ofwhich the tape or belt extending between the devices 45 and 46 issupported. This crank may be connected by means of bevel gears 54 and 55to one of the pair of parallel spools mounted within the frame of thedevice. Three additional spools and their associated belts or tapes onthe device 46 maybe similarly connected up. L

Also, while the tape or belt supporting devices as shown are manuallyoperated, it will be understood that they may be driven by electricmotors, clock spring motors or the like and that more than two of thedevices may be provided for use in conjunction with each model when aplurality of actions are to be shown simultaneously.

Accordingly, it will be understood that the forms of the invention asdescribed herein are illustrative and that the invention is limited onlyby the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for use in making films using animation effects relative toa subject to be filmed comprising a support for mounting the subject tobe filmed, at least one mechanism mounted behind said support forproviding when actuated the animation effects, a pair of spools mountedin spaced relation in said mechanism, the subject to be filmed havingopenings corresponding to the spools, an elongated, flexible symbolbearing member carried by the spools and extending through the openings,and means continuously to rotate the spools which actuates the mechanismand moves the symbol bearing flexible member in front of the subject toprovide animation effects that may be continuously photographed by amotion picture camera.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which means are provided tosupport the spool carrying mechanism for movement to different positionsrelative to the support.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, including at least a secondmechanism mounted behind the support and subject, a second pair ofspools mounted in spaced relation in said second mechanism, openings inthe subject to be filmed corresponding to the second pair of spools, an

elongated flexible symbol bearing member carried by the second pair ofspools and extending through the openings corresponding to the secondpair of spools, a third pair of spools rotatably carried by said firstand second mechanisms, means coupling at least one of the third spoolsto one spool of the corresponding first and second pairs of spools, afurther elongated flexible symbol hearing member carried by the thirdspools and extending through cor-responding openings in the subject tobe filmed, and means to rotate one spool of said first, second and thirdpairs of spools to provide movement of the elongated flexible symbolbearing members between the pairs of spools.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the flexible memberextending between one of the pairs of spools is used as a power belt todrive one of the spools of another pair of spools.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSSudmann Sept. 19, 1916 1,292,149 Teague Jan. 21, 1919 1,633,547 HurdJune 21, 1927 2,149,779 Kroner Mar. 7, 1939 2,413,633 Jones Dec. 31,1946 2,449,702 Iwerks Sept. 21, 1948 2,798,407 Kneitel July 9, 19572,837,962 Kneitel June 10, 1958

1. APPARATUS FOR USE IN MAKING FILMS USING ANIMATION EFFECTS RELATIVE TOA SUBJECT TO BE FILMED COMPRISING A SUPPORT FOR MOUNTING THE SUBJECT TOBE FILMED, AT LEAST ONE MECHANISM MOUNTED BEHIND SAID SUPPORT FORPROVIDING WHEN ACTUATED THE ANIMATION EFFECTS, A PAIR OF SPOOLS MOUNTEDIN SPACED RELATION IN SAID MECHANISM, THE SUBJECT TO BE FILMED HAVINGOPENINGS CORRESPONDING TO BE SPOOLS, AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE SYMBOLBEARING MEMBER CARRIED BY THE SPOOL AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENINGS,AND MEANS CONTINUOUSLY TO ROTATE THE SPOOLS WHICH ACTUATES THE MECHANISMAND MOVES THE SYMBOL BEARING FLEXIBLE MEMBER IN FRONT OF THE SUBJECT TOPROVIDE ANIMATION EFFECTS THAT MAY BE CONTINUOUSLY PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMOTION PICTURE CAMERA.